THE Immigration Department uncovered a prostitution syndicate operating out of a car wash premises in Kepong during a raid on Thursday.

Immigration director Khairul Dzaimee Daud said 16 foreign women – comprising 13 Vietnamese and three Thai nationals – ages 22 to 35 were detained, while seven local men, consisting of customers and carwash workers, were served with notices to record their statements.

He said investigations revealed that there where were a pair of two-storey shoplots next to each other, where one displayed a carwash signboard to distract the authorities, while the other was only opened slightly for sex services from 4pm to midnight.

“From the surveillance carried out, the said premises did not appear to be doing much business but upon entering the building, it was discovered there were many entertainment options on offer with escorts.

“The syndicate used Whatsapp or Telegram chat applications to fish for customers at the said premises,” he said in a statement today.

He said all the foreign citizens detained either did not possess identification papers, had overstayed or were in violation of the Immigration Act, and would be held at Semenyih Immigration Detention Centre in Selangor, for further investigation. – Bernama, October 16, 2021.